Thursday, December 29, 2016

--Adam Roberts, a well-known skier in the Pacific Northwest, was killed in an avalanche on Tuesday. Here is a photo remembrance from the Mt. Baker Experience. Here is some information about the avalanche. And finally, here's a second report and a video about Adam from Snowbrains.

--The Spokesman Review is reporting that, "A professional ski guide has been named director of the Wallowa Avalanche Center, replacing a director who was killed in an avalanche last spring. Victor McNeil fills the vacancy left by the death of Kip Rand, who died in an avalanche last March while backcountry skiing near Chief Joseph Mountain in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, the Associated Press reports." To read more, click here.

--The Spokesman Review is reporting that, "Spokane photographer Rika Ream traveled to Palouse Falls State Park near Washtucna during last weekend’s bitter cold weather to marvel at the ice around the 185-foot Palouse River waterfall. The jaw-dropping white scene was mesmerizing, and a pair of daring ice climbers dropped her jaw even farther. A photograph she captured of the climb has frozen the attention of a few Washington State Parks officials, too. The image she posted on Sunday on Facebook shows Jess Roskelley of Spokane climbing up the vertical wall of fragile ice in the frosty mist of the main waterfall. Scott Coldiron is belaying from below." To see the photo and to read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Late yesterday afternoon several news sources began to report that the Bears Ears was finally made a National Monument. The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that, "President Barack Obama on Wednesday protected a sprawling landscape in southeastern Utah that many had either hoped or dreaded would join the outgoing president's long list of national monuments. The 1.35 million acres of public lands surrounding San Juan County's Cedar Mesa will be known as Bears Ears National Monument, named after the pair of buttes protruding from a ridge joining the mesa and the Abajo Mountains to the north." This area includes Indian Creek, a major American climbing destination. To read more, click here. To see a video about this awesome location, click below:

--Red Rock Rendezvous will take place from March 24 to 27. This is the premire climbing event of the year. Early registration is now open. Early registration allows you to save money and while also providing you with better clinic options than when you register closer to Rendezvous! To register for the event, click here.

Colorado:
--After the success of the recent World Cup competition in Durango, the question remains: should ice climbing be included in the Olympics? To read more, click here.

--The Coloradan is reporting that, "the occurrence of two avalanches large enough to kill people in the Cameron Pass area in the past three days has put backcountry recreationists on notice. And the risk is expected to heighten over the next few days in the mountains west of Fort Collins. The slides at popular Cameron Pass and American Lakes were just two of the 54 avalanches reported to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center in the last four days, which accounted for nearly 80 percent of reported avalanches in Colorado this season." To read more, click here.

--The Aspen Times is reporting that, "The White River National Forest is reaping increasing revenues in fees from Aspen Skiing Co. and other ski-area operators that use public lands. The 11 resorts in the White River National Forest paid $19.94 million in fees in fiscal 2016 compared with $17.92 million in 2015, according to the U.S. Forest Service. That is an increase of 11 percent. The stout increase reflects the strong year for the Colorado ski industry in 2015-16, when it topped 13 million skier visits for the first time, said Melanie Mills, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA, a state trade group." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--On December 6th Luis Cardona planned a beautiful climber proposal at the Elevation Rock Gym in Logan, Utah. There are some great photos in this post. But you can also watch the video below:

--Here is a very spooky short video of a skier triggered avalanche in Chamonix.

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Climbing, skiing and mountaineering are dangerous sports. When you undertake an outdoor, backcountry, or an alpine adventure without a guide, you assume total responsibility for your decisions and wellbeing. Conditions in the mountains are constantly changing, and no guidebook or computer web blog can take the place of solid training and experience. Though this site features descriptions of roads, trails, climbing routes, and other natural features, you cannot assume that because something is described here that it has not changed since last observed or that it will be safe for you or your party.
AAI assumes no responsibility or liability for your use of the information presented in this blog. With regard to all backcountry travel and climbing, you must make your own assessments and decisions, and you assume all risks in applying them.